Elizabeth let out a little squawk when her feet slipped on a patch of ice. She might have regretted choosing this path, had she not so gratifyingly benefited from its superior privacy already. She regretted it even less when Darcy took her arm and pinned her gently but solidly to his side to steady her. The intimacy was sublime, though it made keeping her tone even surprisingly difficult.
“She would be justified if she was confused by the fact that you brought Miss de Bourgh back with you. I confess I was.”
“That was an unfortunate complication, but I could not have left Anne there. Lady Catherine was furious when she discovered we had been here over Christmas. I was shocked by her response. She was cruel—abusively so. Such she has continued to be in her letters to both of us this week—and thisbeforeshe knows I mean to marry you. I do not anticipate a gracious response to the announcement. I am afraid she could make things very difficult for us.”
“How horrid! My mother was angry when I refused Mr Collins, but she was never abusive. I certainly never felt unwelcome in my own home. What will Miss de Bourgh do? Will you bring her to stay with you and your sister?”
Darcy stopped walking and pierced her with an uncommonly intense gaze, even for him. “You continue to amaze me, Elizabeth,” he said at length. “Your only concern in all that I just told you is for my cousin, who has done nothing but abuseyoufor the past several weeks. Are you not concerned for yourself at all?”
“No, I am not. I have been the object of people’s scorn before and survived it. Unless…can your aunt prevent us marrying?”
“No,” he replied resolutely.
“Then let her rage. Disappointment is a uniquely painful and humiliating sentiment, but the injury will fade eventually. It is more pressing that you assist your cousin.”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “And with your blessing, I shall.”
They continued walking but had gone only a few yards before a shout from behind arrested them.
“Kitty?” Elizabeth called. “Is that you?”
Her sister arrived into view flushed and out of breath. “There you are, Lizzy!” she gasped, clutching at her side. “I knew you would come this way.”
“How?” she replied defensively.
Kitty looked between her and Darcy with such a dubious expression that it brought heat to Elizabeth’s cheeks. If she suspected their attachment, however, she did not mention it.
“You must come back. Miss de Bourgh says she can walk no farther. She got as far as the oak stump near the dairy and is refusing to move. Jane and Mr Bingley have gone to fetch the carriage. The rest of us were to wait with her, but she is in high dudgeon, so I said I would run on and find you.”
Elizabeth heard Darcy’s quiet sigh but did not draw attention to it. She only indicated for Kitty to lead the way and fell into step with him behind her.
“I did wonder whether it was a good idea when she said she would walk out with us. I have never seen her walk very far before.” When Darcy did not reply, Elizabeth added, “Is the cause of her ill health known?”
“I can think of a few names for it,” he muttered.
Elizabeth smiled sympathetically yet pressed the matter. “She could hardly be described as hale. She fainted after ten minutes of dancing at the assembly, and I do not think it was affected, for she was terribly embarrassed.”
“No, it was likely genuine,” he conceded. “Her affliction comprises a sorry mix of her mother’s overindulgence and an inherent disposition to frailty. She is just ill enough that nobody can contest her needs but never quite ill enough to justify her behaviour. And she does not scruple to exaggerate her symptoms to get her way.”
Elizabeth thought this was going a little far, but she did not cavil, for he knew her best.
“You seemed surprised that your sister discovered us on this path,” Darcy said after a few minutes of silence and in a voice he obviously intended only she should hear.
“Yes, my sisters prefer the more direct route to Meryton. This path is more meandering and overgrown.”
His countenance took on a decidedly complacent hue. “And did you come this way with any particular purpose in mind, other than to vex my manservant with my muddy boots?”
Elizabeth kept her eyes down and hoped her bonnet would conceal her burning ears from view. “If I did, embarrassing me in this manner will never induce me to admit it.”
It did not help reduce her blush when she felt Darcy place his hand on her lower back and lean close to whisper in her ear. “You will like Pemberley very well, I think. It has plenty of paths on which we can get lost together.”
Her head whipped up, and she laughed, delighted to be so easily rescued from discomfort by his teasing and vastly gratified by the look in his eyes that assured her his was not an empty promise.
They found Miss de Bourgh precisely where Kitty described, seated on the broad oak stump with her arms crossed and her lips pursed. Everybody else was leaning against or swinging on a nearby gate, admiring the view. Kitty ran to join them, leaving Elizabeth and Darcy to speak to his cousin.
“The ramblers have returned, I see,” said Miss de Bourgh as they approached.
“We were less than ten minutes ahead,” Darcy replied brusquely. “What ails you?”
